South Ribble Crime Rate

South Ribble Crime Overview

South Ribble is a safe local authority area with a strong safety record. The overall crime rate is 83.3 per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the UK national average of 91.6. This performance earns the borough a safety score of 82/100, indicating a secure environment for its 116,113 inhabitants. The crime trend in South Ribble is currently stable, with a negligible year-over-year decrease of 1.1%. Property crime in the borough is also notably low at 20.5 per 1,000 residents, well below the national average of 32.2. These figures suggest that South Ribble offers a secure residential setting, with a low incidence of both violent and property-related offences, and a stable trend in safety levels.

South Ribble is a borough in Lancashire, situated immediately south of the city of Preston. The local authority area is a diverse mix of urban centres like Leyland and Penwortham, residential suburbs, and extensive rural areas. South Ribble is a major employment hub with a strong manufacturing base and significant retail developments. Its location at the intersection of the M6, M61, and M65 motorways makes it a key transport and logistics hub for the North West. These factors—high commuter activity, major retail centres, and industrial estates—contribute to the borough's crime profile. The transient population in retail areas and the large number of commercial properties can influence crime rates, particularly in categories like shoplifting and vehicle crime. While the borough generally maintains a lower crime rate than the UK average, the variety of land uses means safety levels can vary between the busy town centres and the more tranquil rural outskirts.

In South Ribble, the crime landscape is primarily defined by violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour, which each account for 33.4% of all reported incidents, with a rate of 27.9 and 27.8 per 1,000 residents respectively. Criminal damage and arson is the third most common category (6.4%), followed by shoplifting at 6.4%. Property-related crime, encompassing burglary, vehicle crime, shoplifting, and various forms of theft, occurs at a combined rate of 20.5 per 1,000 residents. This includes 617 shoplifting incidents, 299 vehicle crimes, and 254 burglaries recorded over the year. For residents and homeowners, these figures suggest that while violent crime and anti-social behaviour are the most frequent categories, property security remains an important consideration, particularly regarding shoplifting in retail areas and vehicle-related offences. The burglary rate of 2.2 per 1,000 indicates that residential break-ins are relatively rare compared to national benchmarks.

South Ribble's crime rate has remained remarkably stable over the past year, with a negligible decrease of 1.1%. The monthly data for 2025 reveals some periodic fluctuations. The year began with a rate of 6.1 in January, peaking in August at 7.8 per 1,000 residents. Another notable rise to 7.7 was recorded in July. Throughout the rest of the year, the rate fluctuated between 5.7 and 7.5, before the year ended with a rate of 6.4 in December. This pattern suggests that while there are periodic increases in activity, particularly during the summer months, the overall annual trend is one of stability. Residents can take comfort in the fact that the borough remains a very safe environment with no significant upward trend in criminal activity.

Compared to its neighbours, South Ribble is a safe borough in the Lancashire region. While specific data for nearby areas like Chorley, Preston, Fylde, West Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, and Wyre were not provided in this set, South Ribble generally offers a more suburban and secure environment than the larger adjacent cities like Preston. Its position as a borough with both urban and rural characteristics naturally results in more reported activity than its purely rural neighbours, but it remains a significantly safer alternative to the major regional centres. For those seeking a safe residential area with excellent transport links, South Ribble provides a highly secure environment compared to the regional average.

South Ribble's strong safety statistics and its low property crime rate of 20.5 per 1,000 are hallmarks of the borough. However, the prevalence of anti-social behaviour and the potential for burglary suggest that maintaining this security requires a proactive approach. Traditional CCTV systems are reactive; they only show you what happened after the fact. scOS provides a proactive alternative by using AI to detect threats at your property's perimeter before a crime occurs. In South Ribble, where burglary and vehicle crime are concerns, scOS can offer vital protection. Its ability to monitor all cameras simultaneously and trigger autonomous deterrents like lighting or audio alerts can stop an intruder before they cause damage. By choosing a system that prevents crime rather than just recording it, you can help ensure South Ribble remains one of the safest boroughs in the region, even as local trends remain stable.

How To Keep Safe in South Ribble

Violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour are the most frequent crime types in South Ribble, followed by criminal damage and arson and shoplifting. To stay safe and protect your property, consider these tips:

• Retail Awareness: For business owners in South Ribble's town centres, ensure your premises have clear sightlines and that high-value items are securely displayed. Shoplifting is a notable crime in the borough.
• Home Security: While burglary rates are low, always ensure your home is fully locked when you are out. Motion-activated lighting can be an effective deterrent for opportunistic intruders.
• Vehicle Care: Vehicle crime is low but present. Always lock your car and avoid leaving any valuables visible inside. Parking in well-lit areas or a garage is recommended.
• Personal Safety: When walking in urban areas, especially after dark, stay alert and stick to well-lit main roads. Avoid distractions like mobile phones or headphones.
• Report Anti-Social Behaviour: ASB is a common crime in South Ribble. Reporting incidents to the local police helps prevent low-level issues from escalating and maintains the borough's high safety score.